Callum Jones

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that a sonic boom heard in Northamptonshire was caused by two Typhoon aircraft launched to identify an “unresponsive” private jet.

Dozens of people in Northampton have contacted the newspaper to report hearing a loud bang at about 3.50pm today.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said the force had also received a number of calls about the noise but no specific incident has been identified as the cause.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said Two Typhoon jets were the cause of the loud noise.

The spokesman said: “Quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft were launched today from RAF Coningsby to identify an unresponsive civilian aircraft. Communications were re-established and the aircraft has been safely escorted to Cardiff airport.”

Northants Fire & Rescue also tweeted that the noise was a sonic boom caused by two jets flying over the area.

Loud booming noises can be caused by RAF planes making a “speed turn”. In April 2015, the Ministry of Defence said a similar loud boom was likely caused in this way.

Karen Gardner, 52, from West Hunsbury, said the noise sounded like a large “boom” and shook the glass in her house.

She said: “It sounded like a bomb had gone off.

“I was just sat having a cup of tea and the windows shook, everything shook.

“A couple of neighbours were outside and they said it was even louder out there.

Five miles away Ian spencer from Garrick Road in Northampton said it sounded like someone was trying to force the front door of his house open, like a loud “thump.”

Twitter has been flooded with people asking what the noise was.

“Was that an earthquake?” said Ed Steele.

‘Tori said; “Anyone know what that explosion was?”

Conservative MP for Northampton North Michael Ellis said the boom vibrated his house in Northampton and set car alarms off in the street.

The boom even measured as a tremor on earthquake sensing equipment at 3.47pm.